Chapter 256: He might not be too fond of you

Xu Yanfeng lowered his gaze, looking at Xia Ziheng with a stern little face, his expression froze.

Xia Xi told him, Zi Heng knows he is his father; Xia Xi had no need to lie to him.

What's going on?

Xu Yanfeng bent down, pointing at his own face, and gently communicated with the child: "Take another good look, I really am your father. Perhaps we haven't seen each other for too long, and you've forgotten what I look like. I told your mother I'd come to pick you up today."

Zi Heng wouldn't have it, turned his head to the side, not even looking at Xu Yanfeng, and repeated those three words: "I don't know you."

Xu Yanfeng's mouth twitched slightly, he straightened up, and explained to Song Laoshi for a while; Song Laoshi, looking embarrassed, said: "Sir, I'm really sorry, but the child says he doesn't know you, I can't hand the child over to you, please understand."

Xu Yanfeng: "?"

Song Laoshi saw he didn't look like a bad person—of course, bad people don't have "bad person" written on their faces—and gave him a suggestion: "Either you call the child's mother to confirm."

Song Laoshi didn't know the grudges between the child's parents; she only took responsibility for the child's safety.

Xu Yanfeng had no other option, so he took out his phone and called the child's mother.

It rang a few times, then was cut off.

Song Laoshi witnessed this, blinked, and her gaze toward Xu Yanfeng gradually changed—perhaps he was a pretender among swindlers. She silently pulled the two children behind her.

Xu Yanfeng clearly felt a breath stuck in his chest, unable to exhale. He then made a second call; finally, Xia Xi answered, her two cold words drifting over the line: "What's up?"

"Zi Heng says he doesn't know me, and the teacher won't let him go." Xu Yanfeng felt his tone sounded like he was complaining.

"He says he doesn't know you?" Xia Xi repeated his words, her tone rising.

Xu Yanfeng: "You didn't say he knows who I am?"

"He really does know, I didn't lie to you." Xia Xi said, "But he might not be too fond of you."

Xu Yanfeng: "..."

After a few seconds of silence, Xia Xi's voice came through the receiver again: "Give the phone to the teacher, I'll talk to her."

Xu Yanfeng raised his eyebrows, immediately handed the phone to Song Laoshi: "The child's mother."

Song Laoshi hesitated before answering; Xia Xi's attitude instantly shifted, gentle and amiable: "Teacher Song? I'm Xia Xi, we met this morning. Sorry for the trouble, the child is just sulking with his father."

"Oh, that's how it is."

"Give the phone to Zi Heng, I'll say a few words to him."

Like passing a flower while drumming, the phone was passed into Zi Heng's hands; the handsome little boy with a tender face had no choice but to yield to his mother's words, obediently walking with that man.

Xu Yanfeng refused the driver's help, opened the rear car doors for the two kids himself; two large bags of snacks were placed on the seats, and there was milk tea on the tray table.

Youyou looked at Zi Heng in a dazed way, and only after Zi Heng got into the car did she get in.

Xu Yanfeng held the edge of the car door, leaned slightly, and smiled friendly: "The food and drinks are all bought for you, feel free to eat."

As the car door closed, Youyou suddenly glanced at Xia Yue by the roadside, standing there alone, as if abandoned, looking a bit pitiful; her heart clenched, an indescribable feeling.

Xu Yanfeng took the front passenger seat; the driver received instructions and drove the car.

The car slowly drove away; Xia Yue's figure grew smaller in Youyou's view, and she inexplicably felt sad. Youyou raised her two little hands to slap the window, pursing her lips as if to cry: "I want to get out."

Xu Yanfeng signaled the driver to stop, turned his head and asked the little girl: "Your nickname is Youyou, right? What's wrong?"

Youyou wailed: "I don't want to live in a strange place; I want to get out of the car, I want my grandma and mom." She also wasn't clear which "mom" she meant.

Xu Yanfeng panicked, quickly got out, opened the rear car door, bent down to wipe her tears; not knowing how to comfort a child, he could only try to explain: "Mom will be back after work; if you miss grandma, you can also have her come over."

"Don't cry, I'm still here," Zi Heng sighed helplessly, comforting her, "We won't sell you off alone; if we're sold, we'll be sold together."

After he said that, Youyou cried even harder: "Waa waa, I don't want to be sold!"

Xu Yanfeng had a headache, glanced at Zi Heng, wondering if this kid was deliberately causing trouble.

Youyou cried as she got out of the car, turned her head toward where Xia Yue was.

Xia Yue saw the commotion over here, hurried over, her hair messy, looking anxious: "What's wrong with Youyou?"

Xu Yanfeng didn't know how to explain, but he told the truth: "Youyou doesn't really want to go to a strange place, she's insisting on getting out of the car, so I had the driver stop."

Xia Yue felt sorry, squatted down and hugged Youyou: "Well, what should we do?"

Zi Heng also got out of the car, patted the shoulder of Youyou, who was crying with her mouth wide open: "You go back to grandma's first; I'll check things out, and if it's fine, you can come over later."

Youyou stopped crying, her eyelashes still wet, two tears hanging at the corners of her eyes, she looked worriedly at him: "Are you okay on your own?" She leaned close to Zi Heng, thinking she was speaking softly, but everyone nearby could hear: "That uncle is really scary, he's bullied Mom and Grandma."

Xu Yanfeng: "..."

Is his image really that scary? The kids were frightened to tears.

Xu Yanfeng silently swallowed a mouthful of air, what was he quarreling with the child about? He lowered his gaze to Xia Yue, seeking her opinion: "Why not follow Zi Heng's suggestion—you take Youyou home first, and later see if the little girl is willing to come stay?"

Xia Yue originally didn't want to be separated from Youyou; she welcomed the suggestion, she stroked Youyou's damp cheek: "Do you want to come back with me?"

Youyou looked back at Zi Heng, still uneasy about him, but she also didn't want to leave Xia Yue. After wavering for two or three minutes, Youyou took Xia Yue's hand and nodded to her.

"Milk tea, I want to drink." Youyou pointed inside the car, ordering Zi Heng.

Zi Heng did as told, reached into the car, picked up a cup, and handed it to her.

Youyou sipped the sweet pearl milk tea, her mood improved greatly, she waved at Zi Heng: "Bye, take care; if anyone bullies you, remember to tell me."

Zi Heng turned his head and climbed into the car; Xu Yanfeng's gaze shifted to Xia Yue, and he said gently: "Shall I send you home?"

Xia Yue firmly held Youyou's little hand, her whole heart filled by this little girl, her smile couldn't be contained; she shook her head, refusing Xu Yanfeng's kindness: "No need, we'll take a taxi back."

Xu Yanfeng wasn't entirely at ease, fiddling with his phone for a while—he usually has a driver when he goes out, rarely hails a car, and isn't very familiar with the process.

He called a private car, gave the license plate number to Xia Yue: "The car will be here in five minutes, please wait."

Xia Yue said gratefully: "Thank you. You go ahead, this place is crowded, there won't be any danger."

Xu Yanfeng nodded, didn't sit in the front passenger seat, but got into the back seat, beside Zi Heng.

The car door closed, the vehicle started again; in the enclosed cabin, Xu Yanfeng's gaze lingered long on this child who shares his blood.

After a full five minutes of silence, Xu Yanfeng finally said: "Your mother said you know I'm your father."

Zi Heng ignored him.

The atmosphere was awkward and stiff; Xu Yanfeng changed the subject: "What do you like to eat and play? Tell me. I've prepared rooms for you and Youyou; I don't know if you'll like the style—if not, let me know and I'll have someone change it."

Zi Heng's mouth was shut tight; not a word could be pried out.

The atmosphere didn't ease at all; it grew even more stiff. Xu Yanfeng felt defeated, moved closer to Zi Heng, and spoke softly: "We're not very familiar yet; once we spend more time together, you'll understand that the father‑son bond between us cannot be severed."

Zi Heng even closed his eyes.

Xu Yanfeng: "......"

He said all that, as if talking to himself, and the car fell completely silent.

Xu Yanfeng wanted to complain to Xia Xi, took out his phone, opened WeChat, his finger had already tapped her avatar, paused, then backed out and put the phone away.

It wasn't yet the normal quitting time; Xia Xi might be busy.

He still thought he could quickly win the child's heart, not knowing where that confidence came from.

Now it's gotten worse—not only does he have to win over Xia Xi, he also has to win over his son; difficulties abound.